Perception & Effects of Surveillance in Singapore

Abstract

With the high Internet penetration rate, and the dense saturation of audio-visual-capturing mobile smartphones among its citizens, Singapore provides a ripe technological infrastructure for a surveillance society. While the authorities have been embracing the surveillance culture, Singapore is witnessing a growing culture of lateral surveillance where its citizens actively participate in capturing socially undesirable behaviours, and many have been widely publicized in the media spaces. Yet, little is known about the effects of surveillance on citizen behaviours in the public spaces. This study explores the awareness of surveillance by the public, and measures its effects on social behaviours. Comparisons would be made between the impacts of surveillance on these behaviours.